NMB City Manager suspension a blow to clean governance

Dear MyPE

Yesterday’s suspension of Mr Johann Mettler as Nelson Mandela Bay City Manager is a huge blow to clean governance in the Metro.

The ANC-led coalition of corruption has, at the insistence of their executive mayor, Mongameli Bobani, suspended someone that made a tremendous contribution to turning the fortunes of the City around.

Bobani has always had a vendetta against Mr Mettler and yesterday he eventually got his way.

The charges against Mr Mettler are trumped up and he has fully and comprehensively replied to the allegations.

Mr Mettler is widely considered to be one of the best Municipal Managers in the country. He is held in such high regard that a former Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Pravin Gordhan, seconded him to NMB.

During Mettler’s term of office corruption to the tune of hundreds of millions of Rand was exposed and many dubious contracts set aside.

The coalition government led by former NMB Executive Mayor Athol Trollip took a principled decision to keep politics out of the administration.

The coalition government, with the assistance of Mr Mettler achieved amongst others the following:

Exposed the IPTS corruption network;
Exposed the Access Facilities Management corruption;
Implemented a credible performance management system for senior and middle management;
Oversaw the implementation of a bucket eradication program. In less than 24 months bucket toilets was reduced by more than 60%;
Negotiated the successful return of the Housing Competency for NMB as from 1 July 2019;
Completely overhauled the Supply Chain Management (SCM) processes in order to safeguard against corruption; and
Severely reduced Fruitless, Wasteful, Unauthorized and Irregular Expenditure.

Although Mettler is likely to be vindicated at the end of the process, the City is set to be the biggest loser. Not only have we lost an extremely competent administrator but it is also highly likely that we will have to pay Mettler a substantial settlement.

This opens the Metro up to more looting, as was the status quo before the failing ANC before it was removed from government in 2016.

Regards

Nqaba Bhanga
Eastern Cape Provincial Leader and Premier Candidate